Votes for these awards were cast by IAGTO’s 260 golf tour operators from 40 different countries. Each operator was asked to nominate what they considered to be the best performing golf destinations this year according to their clients. A winner was named in five regional categories: North America; Latin America and Caribbean; Europe; Africa and Gulf States and Asia and Australasia. Criteria for the Award included: customer satisfaction, quality of golf courses and accommodation, value for money, professional conduct of suppliers, support from the local tourism industry and accessibility to tee times. Among the sixteen other destinations nominated for the North American award were Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Palm Springs and South Carolina.

“Receiving the prestigious title of North America’s Golf Destination of the Year, is yet another example of why British Columbia truly is the Best Place on Earth,” said Stan Hagen, Minister of Tourism, Sport and the Arts. “British Columbia was fortunate to be awarded the recent IAGTO Super Familiarization tour, hosted by Tourism British Columbia in June. This was an important showcase of the many spectacular golf experiences available in British Columbia to forty operators from ten countries.”

Minister Hagen added, “By promoting golf travel, visitors can enjoy not only the many great golf courses and resorts around the province, but experience the many other world class activities British Columbia has to offer as well.”

“It is only three years since British Columbia won IAGTO’s Undiscovered Golf Destination of the Year Award,” said IAGTO CEO Peter Walton. “The progress Canada’s foremost golfing province has made in this time is tremendous, culminating in one of IAGTO’s most successful Super Fams this year. Not only have our operator members voted British Columbia as North America’s Golf Destination of the Year, more operators than ever before are now promoting and selling the region to their valuable clients.”

Mexico, Lisbon Golf Coast, South Africa’s Garden Route and China will also be recognized.

IAGTO was established in 1997 and is the global trade association of the golf tourism industry. Members include golf tour operators, golf resorts, hotels, golf courses, receptive operators, airlines and tourist boards in more than 70 countries worldwide. One of IAGTO’s most important roles is to encourage private and public sector organizations to work together in the development and promotion of new and existing golf destinations, making them accessible to the widest range of golfers.

Tourism British Columbia is a Crown corporation that operates under an industry-led board of directors and is responsible for marketing Super, Natural British Columbia® to the world. For travel information please call 1-800-HelloBC® or visit www.HelloBC.com. For highlights on golf in British Columbia, please visit www.HelloBC.com/golf.

Video and photographs available upon request. Media Contact: Bettina Giblin Corporate Communications Tourism British Columbia Phone: (604) 660-3757 Email: Bettina.Giblin@tourismbc.com Web: www.tourismbc.com